El nuevo nacimiento

Había un hombre de los fariseos, llamado Nicodemo(A), prominente[a](B) entre los judíos. Este vino a Jesús[b] de noche y le dijo: Rabí(C), sabemos que has venido de Dios como maestro, porque nadie puede hacer las señales[c](D) que tú haces si Dios no está con él(E). Respondió Jesús y le dijo: En verdad, en verdad te digo que el que no nace de nuevo[d](F) no puede ver el reino de Dios(G). Nicodemo le dijo*: ¿Cómo puede un hombre nacer siendo ya viejo? ¿Acaso puede entrar por segunda vez en el vientre de su madre y nacer? Jesús respondió: En verdad, en verdad te digo que el que no nace de agua y del Espíritu(H) no puede entrar en el reino de Dios(I). Lo que es nacido de la carne, carne es(J), y lo que es nacido del Espíritu, espíritu es. No te asombres de que te haya dicho: «Os es necesario nacer de nuevo[e]». El viento sopla donde quiere, y oyes su sonido, pero no sabes de dónde viene ni adónde va(K); así es todo aquel que es nacido del Espíritu. Respondió Nicodemo y le dijo: ¿Cómo puede ser esto? 10 Jesús respondió y le dijo: Tú eres maestro(L) de Israel, ¿y no entiendes estas cosas? 11 En verdad, en verdad te digo que hablamos lo que sabemos(M) y damos testimonio de lo que hemos visto, pero vosotros no recibís nuestro testimonio(N). 12 Si os he hablado de las cosas terrenales, y no creéis, ¿cómo creeréis si os hablo de las celestiales? 13 Nadie ha subido al cielo(O), sino el que bajó del cielo(P), es decir, el Hijo del Hombre(Q) que está en el cielo[f]. 14 Y como Moisés levantó la serpiente en el desierto(R), así es necesario que sea levantado el Hijo del Hombre(S), 15 para que todo aquel que cree, tenga en Él[g] vida eterna(T).

El amor de Dios

16 Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo(U), que dio a su Hijo unigénito[h](V), para que todo aquel que cree en Él, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna(W). 17 Porque Dios no envió(X) a su Hijo al mundo para juzgar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por Él(Y). 18 El que cree en Él no es condenado[i](Z); pero el que no cree, ya ha sido condenado[j], porque no ha creído en el nombre del unigénito[k] Hijo de Dios(AA). 19 Y este es el juicio: que la luz vino al mundo(AB), y los hombres amaron más las tinieblas que la luz, pues sus acciones eran malas(AC). 20 Porque todo el que hace lo malo odia la luz(AD), y no viene a la luz para que sus acciones no sean expuestas. 21 Pero el que practica la verdad(AE) viene a la luz, para que sus acciones sean manifestadas que han sido hechas en Dios.

Testimonio final de Juan el Bautista

22 Después de esto vino Jesús con sus discípulos(AF) a la tierra de Judea, y estaba allí con ellos, y bautizaba(AG). 23 Juan también bautizaba en Enón, cerca de Salim, porque allí había mucha agua[l]; y muchos venían y eran bautizados. 24 Porque Juan todavía no había sido metido en la cárcel(AH). 25 Surgió entonces una discusión entre los discípulos de Juan y un judío acerca de la purificación(AI). 26 Y vinieron a Juan y le dijeron: Rabí(AJ), mira, el que estaba contigo al otro lado del Jordán(AK), de quien diste testimonio(AL), está bautizando y todos van a Él. 27 Respondió Juan y dijo: Un hombre no puede recibir nada si no le es dado del cielo(AM). 28 Vosotros mismos me sois testigos de que dije: «Yo no soy el Cristo[m](AN), sino que he sido enviado delante de Él». 29 El que tiene la novia es el novio(AO), pero el amigo del novio, que está allí y le oye, se alegra en gran manera con la voz del novio. Y por eso, este gozo mío se ha completado(AP). 30 Es necesario que Él crezca, y que yo disminuya.

31 El que procede de arriba está por encima de todos; el que es de la tierra, procede[n] de la tierra y habla de la tierra(AQ). El que procede del cielo está sobre todos(AR). 32 Lo que Él ha visto y oído, de eso da testimonio; y nadie recibe su testimonio(AS). 33 El que ha recibido su testimonio ha certificado(AT) esto: que Dios es veraz. 34 Porque aquel a quien Dios ha enviado(AU) habla las palabras de Dios, pues Él da el Espíritu(AV) sin medida[o]. 35 El Padre ama al Hijo y ha entregado todas las cosas en su mano(AW). 36 El que cree en el Hijo tiene vida eterna(AX); pero el que no obedece[p](AY) al Hijo no verá la vida, sino que la ira de Dios permanece sobre él.

Footnotes

  1. Juan 3:1 O, principal
  2. Juan 3:2 Lit., El
  3. Juan 3:2 O, los milagros
  4. Juan 3:3 O, de arriba
  5. Juan 3:7 O, de arriba
  6. Juan 3:13 Muchos mss. antiguos no incluyen: que está en el cielo
  7. Juan 3:15 Algunos mss. dicen: que cree en Él, tenga
  8. Juan 3:16 O, único; i.e., único de su género
  9. Juan 3:18 O, juzgado
  10. Juan 3:18 O, juzgado
  11. Juan 3:18 O, único; i.e., único de su género
  12. Juan 3:23 Lit., muchas aguas
  13. Juan 3:28 I.e., el Mesías
  14. Juan 3:31 Lit., es
  15. Juan 3:34 Lit., El no da el Espíritu por medida
  16. Juan 3:36 O, cree

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus(A) who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.(B) He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,(C) we know(D) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs(E) you are doing if God were not with him.”(F)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a](G)

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.(H) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.(I) You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d](J)

“How can this be?”(K) Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,”(L) said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know,(M) and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.(N) 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven(O) except the one who came from heaven(P)—the Son of Man.[e](Q) 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(R) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f](S) 15 that everyone who believes(T) may have eternal life in him.”[g](U)

16 For God so loved(V) the world that he gave(W) his one and only Son,(X) that whoever believes(Y) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(Z) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(AA) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(AB) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(AC) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(AD) 19 This is the verdict: Light(AE) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(AF) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(AG) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.(AH) 23 Now John(AI) also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(AJ) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(AK) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(AL) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(AM) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’(AN) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(AO) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(AP) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[h]

31 The one who comes from above(AQ) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.(AR) The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard,(AS) but no one accepts his testimony.(AT) 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent(AU) speaks the words of God, for God[i] gives the Spirit(AV) without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.(AW) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,(AX) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Footnotes

  1. John 3:3 The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.
  2. John 3:6 Or but spirit
  3. John 3:7 The Greek is plural.
  4. John 3:8 The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind.
  5. John 3:13 Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven
  6. John 3:14 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  7. John 3:15 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 21.
  8. John 3:30 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.
  9. John 3:34 Greek he

The New Birth

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. (A)This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for (B)no one can do these signs that You do unless (C)God is with him.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (D)unless one is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (E)unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is (F)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (G)The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, (H)“How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 (I)Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and (J)you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (K)No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man [b]who is in heaven. 14 (L)And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so (M)must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever (N)believes in Him should [c]not perish but (O)have eternal life. 16 (P)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten (Q)Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 (R)For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 (S)“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, (T)that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For (U)everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been (V)done in God.”

John the Baptist Exalts Christ

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them (W)and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near (X)Salim, because there was much water there. (Y)And they came and were baptized. 24 For (Z)John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, (AA)to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all (AB)are coming to Him!”

27 John answered and said, (AC)“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (AD)‘I am not the Christ,’ but, (AE)‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 (AF)He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but (AG)the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 (AH)He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 (AI)He who comes from above (AJ)is above all; (AK)he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. (AL)He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And (AM)what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony (AN)has certified that God is true. 34 (AO)For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit (AP)by measure. 35 (AQ)The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 (AR)He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the (AS)wrath of God abides on him.”

Footnotes

  1. John 3:3 Or from above
  2. John 3:13 NU omits who is in heaven
  3. John 3:15 NU omits not perish but